This blog has nothing to do with gorillas (though I love 'em)...fellow bloggers have inspired me to share vintage images of Disneyland from my personal collection. But don't be surprised if you see something from a World's Fair, Knott's Berry Farm, or someplace else that is cool!

Monday, April 06, 2015

I was very excited to find this first photo, a rare record of the day that the Columbia was attacked by a marauding tree! I'm sure you heard about it, it was in all the papers. Look at those creepy tendrils, reaching, grasping, wanting only to choke and crush! This is why nobody likes trees today. In spite of the drama, it made for a pretty picture.

More trees! Why, even mighty Cascade Peak was no match for them. "They" say that it was water that destroyed the Peak, but I talked to a guy at the race track and he said that it was the trees. I believe him.

"They" say that it was water that destroyed the Peak, but I talked to a guy at the race track and he said that it was the trees. I believe him.

She had no saying dark enoughFor the dark pine that keptForever trying the window latchOf the room where they slept.

The tireless but ineffectual handsThat with every futile passMade the great tree seem as a little birdBefore the mystery of glass!

It never had been inside the room,And only one of the twoWas afraid in an oft-repeated dreamOf what the tree might do.

--Robert Frost, 1921

I lived in the woods for years, and there were many days I could have sworn the trees were out to get me. It was like that mountain in The Fellowship of the Ring that didn't want people crossing it and tried to get them off.

Maybe it didn't help that I was scared of the Kite-Eating Tree from "Peanuts" as a kid.

That is indeed a lovely atmospheric shot of the Columbia. I wish they'd build one back East; there's a distinct paucity of watercraft on the Rivers of America at WDW these days.

A large tree came crashing through my apartment way back in 1982. It was the same time as the floods and landslides where happening in my area which killed over twenty people. The tree obliterated my front door, windows and wall of my living room. About two hours before that event, I told the landlord the tree looked like it was leaning too much. I found out my assessment was right. Also the main bridge in town collapsed after a build up of large trees flowing down the river from the mountains crashed into the bridge. From that point on, I've never been fond of living next to big trees anymore.

Melissa, you are "classing up the joint" with Robert Frost's poetry! I'm more of a Nipsy Russell man, myself. But I am impressed that you could reference a poem about a tree (no fair citing Joyce Kilmer). You lived in the woods for years? There's an interesting story there, I'll bet. I would have been worried about the Blair Witch. The Kite-eating tree was a favorite of mine when I was a kid, it was just so WEIRD. I still remember drawing it, with its big smile. I wonder if there ever was any plan to build a sailing ship like the Columbia for WDW?

K. Martinez, your story reminds me of a leaning eucalyptus tree that was just outside of my grandparent's property. My grandpa would point to it and call it a "widow maker". He even contacted the neighbor and offered to pay to have the tree removed. They said "no". And of course it finally did fall over one day, crashing into their car port. Fortunately the main part of the house was OK, but I'm sure it cost the neighbors a bundle to deal with the damage.

I always appreciate it when the amateur photographers who's work we enjoy here try and do something a little more creative (like the Columbia pic) than just point and shoot. Thank you photographers of the past!Just for the record, I like trees.